Refrigerator and apparatus for ice discharging therein

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator and a device for ice discharging are disclosed. The device for ice discharging includes a case having an ice introduction opening and an ice discharge opening ( 312 ); a rotation member ( 320 ) rotatable in the case to transfer ice that is held in a predetermined amount to be discharged; and a discharge adjustment part ( 340 ) spaced apart a predetermined space from the rotation member ( 320 ) to adjust the number of the ices transferred by the rotation member, such that a fixed amount of the ice is substantially discharged. The refrigerator includes the device for ice discharging therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a reissue application of U.S. application Ser. No.12/445,589, filed Apr. 15, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,002, issuedJun. 10, 2014, which is a § 371 national stage entry of PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2007/005201, filed Oct. 23, 2007, and which claims the benefitof a foreign priority application filed in Korea as Serial No.10-2006-0103232 on Oct. 24, 2006. This application claims priority toeach of these prior applications.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a device for icedischarging provided therein. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a refrigerator and a device for ice discharging providedtherein to discharge ice in a fixed amount by an improved structure ofice transfer.

BACKGROUND ART

Refrigerators are electric appliances to cool or freeze foodstuff in arefrigeration compartment and a freeze compartment by an evaporator anda heat-exchanger constituting a refrigeration cycle for supplying coolair or cold air.

Rather than the function of preserving foodstuff at a lower temperature,such refrigerators can make ice by using cold air at a temperature lowerthan a freezing temperature of water supplied to the freeze compartment.The ice may be dispensed in a state of an ice cube as it is or in astate of being crushed.

This ice dispensing function is performed by an icemaker exposed to coldair of the freeze compartment and an ice discharging device. Theicemaker makes ice by using the cold air of the freeze compartment andthe ice discharging device allows the ice made by the icemaker todischarge the ice in an ice cube shape or crushed shape selectively.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional ice discharging device.As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional ice discharging device includes acase 10, an ice crushing unit 30, a motor 21, a shaft 22 and a transfermember 23. Ice supplied by an ice maker (not shown) is held in the case10. The ice crushing unit 20 discharges the ice of the case 10 in icecube or crushed shapes. The motor 21 drives the ice crushing unit 30 andthe transfer member 23 is formed on the shaft 22 to transfer the ice ofthe case 10 to the ice crushing unit 30. The transfer member 23 hasspiral wings having a predetermined section and it is formed along thecircumference of the shaft 22.

An ice introduction opening 11 is provided at an upper portion of thecase 10 and ice is introduced in the case 10 from an icemaker (notshown) through the opening 11. An ice discharge opening 12 is providedat a lower portion of the case 10 and the ice is discharged outside thecase 10 through the ice discharge opening 12.

In such the conventional ice discharging device, the ice introducedthrough the ice introduction opening 11 is transferred toward the icedischarge opening 12 by the transfer member 23 rotating together withthe rotation of the shaft 22. As a result, the ice may be discharged asit is (in this case, in an ice cube shape), or the ice is crushed by theice crushing unit 30 and discharged (in this case, in a crushed iceshape).

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views of the conventional ice discharging deviceillustrating the cases of discharging ice cube or crushed ice,respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, if a user wishes crushed ice from the icedischarging device, the ice inside the case 10 is transferred to the icedischarge opening 12 by the transfer member 23 (see FIG. 1) and at thistime a shutter 33 that is able to close some or entire portion of theice discharge opening 12 is operated by a shutter driving unit 34 toclose some portion of the ice discharge opening 12.

Hence, the transferred ice is not discharged through the ice dischargeopening 12 and a rotary blade 32 of the ice crushing unit 30 rotates ina clockwise direction to move the ice toward a fixed blade 31. Hence,the ice is crushed by the interaction between the fixed blade 31 and therotary blade 32 and the crushed ice is discharged through the icedischarge opening 12.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, if a user wishes an ice cube fromthe conventional ice discharging device, the ice inside the case 10 istransferred to the ice discharge opening 12 and the shutter driving unit34 drives the shutter 33 to open the ice discharge opening 12completely. Hence, the rotary blade 32 rotates in a counter-clockwisedirection to push the ice with its no-blade portion and thus the icecube is discharged through the ice discharge opening 12.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the amount of discharged ice is not regular, that is not fixed,and thus a lots amount of ice might be discharged at a time when theuser try to dispense the ice, because the ice pushed by the transfermember and the ice is discharged by opening or closing the shutter.

Further, in the conventional ice discharging device, the amount ofpushed ice is not fixed. If a much amount of ice is pushed at a time,the ice might not be discharged smoothly because of a bottleneck stateat the ice discharge opening and there might be an operational failureof the ice crushing unit. In addition, a malfunction of the icedischarging device might be caused by too much load on the operationunit of the ice discharging device.

Technical Solution

To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to providea refrigerator and a device for ice discharging.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, adevice for ice discharging includes a case having an ice introductionopening and an ice discharge opening; a rotation member rotatable in thecase to transfer ice that is held in a predetermined amount to bedischarged; and a discharge adjustment part spaced apart a predeterminedspace from the rotation member to adjust the number of the icestransferred by the rotation member, such that a fixed amount of the iceis substantially discharged.

The rotation member includes a rotation shaft portion rotated by a powerand at least one rotation wing portion formed radial at the rotationshaft portion to form an ice holding space.

The rotation wing portion includes a curvature wing portion with an endcurved to the other end.

The rotation wing portion includes a bent wing portion having a bentportion.

The rotation member includes a rotation shaft portion rotated by a powerand at least two linear wing portions formed radial at the rotationshaft portion. An ice holding space is formed between the linear wingportions.

The discharge adjustment part includes a fixed portion fixed at a sideof the case to a predetermined length and a flexible adjustment portionconnected with the fixed portion to be flexible upward and downward. Thenumber of the ices held as the rotation member being rotated is adjustedby the flexible adjustment portion.

The discharge adjustment part includes a fixed portion fixed at a sideof the case to a predetermined length, an adjustment flap coupled to thefixed part by a hinge to be able to move upward and downward and anelastic member to give elasticity to the upward and downward motion ofthe adjustment flap. The number of the ice held as the rotation memberbeing rotated is adjusted by the elastic motion of the adjustment flap.

The device for ice discharging further includes a guide that is obliquefrom a side surface of the case to a bottom of the case, adjacent to therotation member, to guide the ice introduced into the case to therotation member.

The device for ice discharging further includes a rib provided at a rearsurface of the rotation wing portion to prevent the ice from beingdischarged into space between the guide and the rotation member.

The device for ice discharging further includes an ice processing unitprovided at the ice discharge opening to process the ice in a crushedshape or as it is.

The ice processing unit includes a housing provided at the ice dischargeopening, an ice outlet formed at a lower end of the housing to dischargethe ice outside, a shaft rotatable in the housing, at least one fixedblade fixed at the shaft and the housing, and a rotary blade rotated bythe shaft to process the ice by an interaction with the fixed blade.

The device for ice discharging includes a motor installed inside oroutside the case, a driving gear connected with the motor, coupled toeither of the rotation member and the shaft to receive a power from themotor, a driven gear coupled to the other of the rotation member and theshaft to rotate with being engaged with the driving gear. The rotationmember and the ice processing unit are controlled by controlling thesingle motor.

In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a body having a freezercompartment therein; a door to open and close the freezer compartment;an icemaker installed in at either of the freezer and the door to makeice; a device for ice discharging comprising a case to store the iceintroduced therein, a rotation member rotatable in the case to transferice that is held in a predetermined amount to be discharged, and adischarge adjustment part spaced apart a predetermined space from therotation member to adjust the number of the ices transferred by therotation member, such that a fixed amount of the ice is substantiallydischarged; and a dispenser to dispense the ice discharged from thedevice for ice discharging outside the door.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention has following advantageous effects.

According to the refrigerator and the device for ice discharging, afixed amount of ice may be substantially discharged, not discharged at atime. As a result, reliability of a product may be enhanced and afailure or malfunction of a product may be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of thedisclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional ice discharging device;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views illustrating cases of discharging icecubes and crushed ice, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a front of an ice dischargingdevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating operational parts ofthe ice discharging device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 6 to 9 are diagrams illustrating exemplary embodiments of the icedischarging device according to the present invention, respectively;

FIGS. 10 to 13 are diagrams illustrating an operation of an icedischarging device according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to thepresent invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a front of an ice dischargingdevice according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explodedperspective view illustrating operational parts of the ice dischargingdevice according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 9 are diagramsillustrating exemplary embodiments of the ice discharging deviceaccording to the present invention, respectively.

FIGS. 10 to 13 are diagrams illustrating an operation of an icedischarging device according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention and FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a refrigeratoraccording to the present invention.

The ice discharging device of the present invention may be applicable toall kinds of appliances having a structure of ice discharge such as avending machine and a water purifier, as well as a refrigerator. Here,the ice discharging device applied to a refrigerator will be presented.

As shown in FIG. 14, a refrigerator according to the present inventionincludes a body 100, a freezer compartment 101, a door 110, an icemaker200, an ice discharging device 300 and a dispenser. The freezercompartment 101 is provided in the body 100. The door 110 opens andcloses the freezer compartment 101. The icemaker 200, the icedischarging device 300 and the dispenser 201 are to discharge ice andthey are provided in an inner surface of the door 110 or a predeterminedportion of the freezer compartment 101.

Even though the icemaker 200, the ice discharging device 300 and thedispenser 201 are provided at the door 110 or the freezer compartment101, a user has to be provided ice in a state of the door 110 beingclosed. Thus, the dispenser 201 should be in communication with anoutside.

FIGS. 4 to 13 illustrate the ice discharging device applied to therefrigerator more specifically. As shown in FIG. 4, the ice dischargingdevice 300 includes a case 310, a rotation member 320 and a dischargeadjustment part 340. The case 310 defines a predetermined space to holdthe ice supplied by the icemaker 200. The rotation member 320 rotates totransfer a predetermined amount of the ice supplied to the case 310toward an ice discharge opening 312. The discharge adjustment part 340adjacent to the rotation member 230 allows the rotation member 320 toadjust the amount of ice, for the ice to be discharged at a fixedamount.

An upper portion of the case 310 is opened and the ice supplied by theicemaker 200 is introduced into the case 310. The ice discharge opening312 is formed at an opened portion of a lower portion of the case 310.

The ice discharging device further includes a guide 330 formed oppositeto the discharge adjustment part 340 in the case 310, being oblique froman inner side surface of the case 310 to the ice discharge opening 312at a predetermined angle. The guide 330 guides the ice of the icemaker200 to move to the rotation member 320.

An ice processing unit 350 is provided under the ice discharge opening312 and the ice processing unit 350 includes a housing 351, an iceoutlet 352, a shaft 353, a fixed blade 354 and a rotary blade 355. Thehousing 351 covers the ice discharge opening 312. The shaft 353 isrotatable within the housing 351. The fixed blade 354 is fixed on theshaft 353 and the rotary blade 355 rotates on the shaft 353.

If the rotation member 320 transfers the ice to the ice dischargeopening 312, the ice is processed to be ice cubes or crushed ice by theice processing unit 350 and the ice cubes or the crushed ice may bedischarged.

In reference to FIG. 5, the rotation of the rotation member 320 and theshaft 353 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 5, an operation unit 360 of the ice discharging deviceaccording to the present invention includes a motor 361, a driving gear362 and a driven gear 363. The driving gear 362 is coupled to a motorshaft 361a of the motor 361 to rotate together with the motor 361. Thedriven gear 363 is engaged with the driving gear 362 to rotate togetherwith the driving gear 362.

Either the shaft 353 of the ice processing unit 350 or a rotation shaftportion of the rotation member 320 is coupled to the driving gear 362,and the other of the two is coupled to the driven gear 363.

As a result, the ice processing unit 350 and the rotation member 320 maybe controlled by the single operation of the motor 361 at the same time.

The rotation speed of both the rotation shaft portion 321 of therotation member 320 and the shaft 353 of the ice processing unit 350 maybe controlled according to the size of the driving gear 362 and drivengear 363 or the number of teeth. For example, if a larger driven gearthan the driving gear (a driven gear having more teeth than the drivinggear) is used, the driven gear rotates slower than the driving gear.

Although the driving gear 362 and the driven gear 363 are used as meansfor transmitting the driving force of the motor 361 as shown in FIG. 5,it is possible to use a driving pulley, a driven pulley and a powertransmission belt connecting the driving pulley and the driven pulley totransmit a power.

In reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, exemplary embodiments of the icedischarging device according to the present invention will be explained.The ice discharging device according to each embodiment presented inFIGS. 6 to 9 has the same elements of the case 310, having the iceintroduction opening 311 and the ice discharge opening 312, thedischarge adjustment part 340, the guide 330 and the ice processing unit350, which are identical to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and thus thedetailed description thereof will be omitted except the rotation member320.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the rotation member 320 includes arotation shaft portion 321 rotated by the power of the motor 361 (seeFIG. 5) and at least one rotation wing portion extending from or coupledto the rotation shaft portion 321. In FIG. 6, a curvature wing portion322a is formed as an example of the rotation wing portion.

The curvature wing portion 322a is curved in a circular arc shape, thatis, gently curved and an ice holding space (S) is formed in an innerspace of the curved portion. As guided by the guide 330, the ice holdingspace (S) holds a predetermined amount of transferring ice and it isrotated by the rotation shaft portion 321 to transfer the ice.

Here, the ice held in the ice holding space (S) as the curvature wingportion 322a being rotated is contacted with the discharge adjustmentpart 340 and the discharge adjustment part 340 excludes the ice not heldin the ice holding space to adjust the amount of ice, which will beexplained later.

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary embodiment. The rotation member 320 shownin FIG. 7 also includes the rotation shaft portion 321 and the curvaturewing portion 322a like the embodiment of FIG. 6. However, the embodimentof FIG. 7 includes at least one rib (R) extending from an oppositesurface to a surface having the ice holding space (S) in a predeterminedlength to be perpendicular to a dotted extending line of the oppositesurface.

The rib (R) prevents the ice from being discharged to space that isformed between the rotation member 320 and the guide 330, when thecurvature wing portion 322a is rotated and passes the guide 330 beforethe curvature wing portion 322a comes to the guide 330.

The rib (R) may be formed of a hard material and it is preferable thatthe rib (R) is formed of a flexible material to be flexible whencolliding against the guide 330 or the discharge adjustment part 340.

This rib (R) may be applicable to all the embodiments including a bentwing portion and linear wing portion, which will be explained later, aswell as the curvature wing portion.

The rotation member 320 shown in FIG. 8 includes the rotation shaftportion 321 and at least one bent wing portion 322b rotated by therotation shaft portion 321.

The bent wing portion 322b is bent and the ice holding space (S) isformed in an inner space formed by the bent portion. The ice holdingspace (S) is guided by the guide 330 to hold a predetermined amount ofthe transferring ice and it transfers the ice as being rotating by therotation shaft portion 321.

The rotation member 320 of an embodiment shown in FIG. 9 includes alinear wing portion 322c rotated by the rotation shaft portion 321. Thelinear wing portion 322c is formed linear and at least two linear wingportions 322c form the ice holding space (S) to hold a predeterminedamount of the ice guided by the guide 330.

In reference to FIGS. 10 to 13, the discharge adjustment part 340 of theice discharging device and an operation of the ice discharging devicewill be explained. Each embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 presents thecurvature wing portion 322a as an example of the rotation wing portion322 and the rib (R). Here the bent wing portion and the linear wingportion may be applicable.

The ice discharging device according to each embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 also includes the case 310 having theice introduction opening 311 and the ice discharge opening 312, therotation member 320, the guide 330 and the ice processing unit 350 likeFIGS. 4 to 9. Thus, the detailed description of the identical elementswill be omitted but the discharge adjustment part 340 will be explained.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the dischargeadjustment part 340 includes a fixed portion 341 and a flexibleadjustment portion 342. The fixed portion 341 is fixed oblique at aninner side surface of the case 310 to a predetermined length. Theflexible adjustment portion 342 is movable upward and downward, havingelasticity from the fixed portion 341 to an end of the dischargeadjustment part 340. The flexible adjustment portion 341 is adjacent tothe rotation wing portion 322.

The flexible adjustment portion 342 may be extending from the fixedportion 341 as one body or may be formed separately to be coupled to thefixed portion 341.

An operation of the ice discharging device shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 willbe explained.

If the ice is introduced into the case 310 by the icemaker, the ice istransferred along the guide 330 and a predetermined amount of the ice isheld in the ice holding space (S) of the rotation wing portion 322.

As the rotation shaft portion 321 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, the ice held in the ice holding space (S) is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, too. At this time, the flexible adjustmentportion 342 adjacent to the rotation wing portion 322 is contacted withthe held ice and it moves upward and downward to adjust the number ofthe ices, which results in substantially discharging a fixed amount ofthe ice.

FIG. 10 shows that the flexible adjustment portion 342 contacted withthe ice moves upward to adjust the amount of the ice and FIG. 11 showsthat the flexible adjustment portion 342 contacted with the ice movesdownward to adjust the amount of the ice.

It is also possible that the rotation member is rotated in an oppositedirection to adjust the amount of the ice. specifically, if the rotationshaft portion 321 is rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS.10 and 11, the rotation wing portion 322 limits the ice from movingtoward the ice discharge opening 312 along the guide 330 to adjust theamount of the ice.

On the other hand, an embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and anoperation thereof will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, thedischarge adjustment part 340 includes the fixed portion 341 and anadjustment flap 343. The fixed portion 341 is fixed oblique at an innersurface of the case 310 to a predetermined length. The adjustment flap343 is rotatably coupled to an end of the fixed portion 341.

The adjustment flap 343 is rotatably coupled to the fixed portion 341 bya hinge 345 and it includes a spring 344 to give elasticity to themotion of the adjustment flap 343.

An end of the spring 344 is fixed at the fixed portion 341 and the otherend is fixed at the adjustment flap 343 to create elastic restitution bythe motion of the adjustment flap 343. As a result, the adjustment flap343 can move upward and downward elastically.

In reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, an operation of the ice dischargingdevice having the discharge adjustment part 340 by the adjustment flap343 will be explained. If the ice is introduced into the case 310 by theicemaker, the ice is transferred along the guide 330 and thepredetermined amount of the ice is held in the ice holding space (S) ofthe rotation wing portion 322 of the rotation member.

As the rotation shaft portion 321 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, the ice held in the ice holding space (S) is also rotated ina counter-clockwise direction. At this time, the adjustment flap 343 ofthe discharge adjust part 340 adjacent to the rotation wing portion 322is contacted with the held ice and the adjustment flap 343 moves upwardand downward to adjust the amount of the ice, which results insubstantial discharging of the fixed amount of the ice.

FIG. 12 shows that the adjustment flap 343 contacted with the ice movesdownward to adjust the number of the ices and FIG. 13 shows that theadjustment flap 343 contacted with the ice moves upward to adjust thenumber of the ices.

It is also possible that the rotation member can adjust the number ofthe ices as being rotated in an opposite direction. Specifically, if therotation shaft portion 321 is rotated in a clockwise direction as shownin FIGS. 12 and 13, the rotation wing portion 322 limits the ice frommoving toward the ice discharge opening 312 along the guide 330 toadjust the amount of the ice.

In reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, if the substantially fixed amount of theice is transferred to the ice discharge opening 312 by the operation ofthe ice discharging device, the ice processing unit 350 provided underthe ice discharge opening 312 processes the ice to be discharged as itis or in crushed shapes.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention has an industrial applicability.

According to the refrigerator and the device for ice discharging, afixed amount of ice may be substantially discharged, not discharged at atime. As a result, reliability of a product may be enhanced and afailure or malfunction of a product may be prevented.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for ice discharging provided in arefrigerator door comprising: a case having an ice introduction openingat an upper portion and an ice discharge opening at a lower portion; arotation member rotatable in the case to transfer ice that is held in apredetermined amount to be discharged by rotation thereof, wherein therotation member comprises: a rotation shaft portion rotated byelectrical power, and at least one rotation wing portion that extendsradially from the rotation shaft portion, that is a plate parallel tothe rotation shaft, and that defines an ice holding space; a dischargeadjustment part that extends from a first inner side surface of the caseto a position over a rotation contour of the at least one rotation wingportion and that adjusts the number of the ices transferred by therotation member in the ice holding space, such that a fixed amount ofthe ice is substantially discharged; and a guide that is positionedopposite to the discharge adjustment part in the case such that therotation member is positioned between the discharge adjustment part andthe guide, that extends from a second inner side surface of the case toa position under a rotation contour of the at least one rotation wingportion, that is oblique from the second inner side surface of the caseto a bottom of the case, that is adjacent to the rotation member, andthat guides ice introduced into the case to the rotation member, thesecond inner side surface being opposite of the first inner sidesurface, wherein, as the rotation member rotates: the rotation wingportion contacts ice pieces guided by the guide, the rotation wingportion rotates the ice pieces toward the discharge adjustment part, thedischarge adjustment part contacts at least one of the ice pieces beingrotated and moves upward and downward to adjust the number of the icepieces in the ice holding space defined by the rotation wing portion tothe fixed amount of the ice, and the rotation wing portion moves thefixed amount of ice in the ice holding space downward from the dischargeadjustment part to the ice discharge opening.
 2. The device for icedischarging as claimed in claim 1 20, wherein the rotation wing portioncomprises a curvature wing portion with an end curved to the other end.3. The device for ice discharging as claimed in claim 1 20, wherein therotation wing portion comprises a bent wing portion having a bentportion.
 4. The device for ice discharging as claimed in claim 1 20,wherein the rotation member comprises, a rotation shaft portion rotatedby a power, and at least two linear wing portions formed radial at therotation shaft portion, further wherein an ice holding space is formedbetween the linear wing portions.
 5. The device for ice discharging asclaimed in claim 1 20, wherein the discharge adjustment part comprises,a fixed portion fixed at a side of the case to a predetermined length,and a flexible adjustment portion connected with the fixed portion to beflexible upward and downward, further wherein the number of the icesheld as the rotation member being rotated is adjusted by the flexibleadjustment portion.
 6. The device for ice discharging as claimed inclaim 1 20, wherein the discharge adjustment part comprises, a fixedportion fixed at a side of the case to a predetermined length, anadjustment flap coupled to the fixed part by a hinge to be able to moveupward and downward, and an elastic member to give elasticity to theupward and downward motion of the adjustment flap, further wherein thenumber of the ice held as the rotation member being rotated is adjustedby the elastic motion of the adjustment flap.
 7. The device for icedischarging as claimed in claim 1 20, further comprising a rib providedat a rear surface of a rotation wing portion to prevent the ice frombeing discharged into space between the guide and the rotation member.8. The device for ice discharging as claimed in claim 1 20, furthercomprising an ice processing unit provided at the ice discharge openingto process the ice in a crushed shape or as it is, the ice processingunit being configured to process ice after the ice has been moved by therotation member past the discharge adjustment part.
 9. The device forice discharging as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ice processing unitcomprises, a housing provided at the ice discharge opening, an iceoutlet formed at a lower end of the housing to discharge the iceoutside, a shaft rotatable in the housing, at least one fixed bladefixed at the shaft and the housing, and a rotary blade rotated by theshaft to process the ice by an interaction with the fixed blade.
 10. Thedevice for ice discharging as claimed in claim 9, comprising: a motorinstalled inside or outside the case, a driving gear connected with themotor, coupled to either of the rotation member and the shaft to receivea power from the motor, a driven gear coupled to the other of therotation member and the shaft to rotate with being engaged with thedriving gear, wherein the rotation member and the ice processing unitare controlled by the control of the single motor.
 11. The device forice discharging as claimed in claim 1 20, wherein the dischargeadjustment part is positioned above the rotation member and the-guide ispositioned below the rotation member.
 12. The device for ice dischargingas claimed in claim 1 20, wherein the discharge adjustment part adjustsa number of ice pieces that the rotation member carries as the rotationmember rotates to a position at which the carried ice pieces fall out ofthe rotation member toward the ice discharge opening based on force ofgravity.
 13. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a compartmenttherein; a door to open and close the compartment; an icemaker installedin the door and configured to make ice; a device for ice dischargingprovided in the door comprising: a case having an ice introductionopening at an upper portion and an ice discharge opening at a lowerportion, a rotation member rotatable in the case to transfer ice that isheld in a predetermined amount to be discharged by rotation thereof,wherein the rotation member comprises: a rotation shaft portion rotatedby electrical power, and at least one rotation wing portion that extendsradially from the rotation shaft portion, that is a plate parallel tothe rotation shaft portion, and that defines an ice holding space, adischarge adjustment part that extends from a first inner side surfaceof the case to a position over a rotation contour of the at least onerotation wing portion and that adjusts the number of the icestransferred by the rotation member in the ice holding space, such that afixed amount of the ice is substantially discharged, and a guide that ispositioned opposite to the discharge adjustment part in the case suchthat the rotation member is positioned between the discharge adjustmentpart and the guide, that extends from a second inner side surface of thecase to a position under a rotation contour of the at least one rotationwing portion, that is oblique from the second inner side surface of thecase to a bottom of the case, that is adjacent to the rotation member,and that guides ice introduced into the case to the rotation member, thesecond inner side surface being opposite of the first inner sidesurface; and a dispenser to dispense the ice discharged from the devicefor ice discharging outside the door, wherein, as the rotation memberrotates: the rotation wing portion contacts ice pieces guided by theguide, the rotation wing portion rotates the ice pieces toward thedischarge adjustment part, the discharge adjustment part contacts atleast one of the ice pieces being rotated and moves upward and downwardto adjust the number of the ice pieces in the ice holding space definedby the rotation wing portion to the fixed amount of the ice, and therotation wing portion moves the fixed amount of ice in the ice holdingspace downward from the discharge adjustment part to the ice dischargeopening.
 14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 13 21, wherein therotation wing portion comprises a curvature wing portion with an endcurved to the other end.
 15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 13 21,wherein the rotation wing portion comprises a bent wing portion having abent portion.
 16. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 13 21, whereinthe discharge adjustment part comprises, a fixed portion fixed at a sideof the case to a predetermined length, and a flexible adjustment portionconnected with the fixed portion to be flexible upward and downward,further wherein the number of the ices held as the rotation member beingrotated is adjusted by the flexible adjustment portion.
 17. Therefrigerator as claimed in claim 13 21, wherein the discharge adjustmentpart comprises, a fixed portion fixed at a side of the case to apredetermined length, an adjustment flap coupled to the fixed part by ahinge to be able to move upward and downward, and an elastic member togive elasticity to the upward and downward motion of the adjustmentflap, further wherein the number of the ice held as the rotation memberbeing rotated is adjusted by the elastic motion of the adjustment flap.18. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 13 21, further comprising a ribprovided at a rear surface of a rotation wing portion to prevent the icefrom being discharged into space between the guide and the rotationmember.
 19. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 13 21, furthercomprising an ice processing unit provided at the ice discharge openingto process the ice in a crushed shape or as it is, the ice processingunit being configured to process ice after the ice has been moved by therotation member past the discharge adjustment part.
 20. A device for icedischarging provided in a refrigerator door comprising: a case having anice introduction opening at an upper portion and an ice dischargeopening at a lower portion; a rotation member rotatable in the case totransfer ice by rotation thereof, wherein the rotation member comprises:a rotation shaft portion rotated by electrical power, and at least onerotation wing portion that extends radially from the rotation shaftportion, that is a plate parallel to the rotation shaft, and thatdefines an ice holding space; a discharge adjustment part that extendsfrom a first inner side surface of the case to a position over arotation contour of the at least one rotation wing portion and thatadjusts the number of the ices transferred by the rotation member in theice holding space, such that an amount of the ice is discharged; and aguide that is positioned opposite to the discharge adjustment part inthe case such that the rotation member is positioned between thedischarge adjustment part and the guide, that extends from a secondinner side surface of the case to a position under a rotation contour ofthe at least one rotation wing portion, that is oblique from the secondinner side surface of the case to a bottom of the case, that is adjacentto the rotation member, and that guides ice introduced into the case tothe rotation member, the second inner side surface being opposite of thefirst inner side surface, wherein, as the rotation member rotates: therotation wing portion contacts ice pieces guided by the guide, therotation wing portion rotates the ice pieces toward the dischargeadjustment part, the discharge adjustment part contacts at least one ofthe ice pieces being rotated and moves upward and downward to adjust thenumber of the ice pieces in the ice holding space defined by therotation wing portion to the amount of the ice, and the rotation wingportion moves the amount of ice in the ice holding space downward fromthe discharge adjustment part to the ice discharge opening.
 21. Arefrigerator comprising: a body having a compartment therein; a door toopen and close the compartment; an icemaker installed in the door andconfigured to make ice; a device for ice discharging provided in thedoor comprising: a case having an ice introduction opening at an upperportion and an ice discharge opening at a lower portion, a rotationmember rotatable in the case to transfer ice by rotation thereof,wherein the rotation member comprises: a rotation shaft portion rotatedby electrical power, and at least one rotation wing portion that extendsradially from the rotation shaft portion, that is a plate parallel tothe rotation shaft portion, and that defines an ice holding space, adischarge adjustment part that extends from a first inner side surfaceof the case to a position over a rotation contour of the at least onerotation wing portion and that adjusts the number of the icestransferred by the rotation member in the ice holding space, such thatan amount of the ice is discharged, and a guide that is positionedopposite to the discharge adjustment part in the case such that therotation member is positioned between the discharge adjustment part andthe guide, that extends from a second inner side surface of the case toa position under a rotation contour of the at least one rotation wingportion, that is oblique from the second inner side surface of the caseto a bottom of the case, that is adjacent to the rotation member, andthat guides ice introduced into the case to the rotation member, thesecond inner side surface being opposite of the first inner sidesurface; and a dispenser to dispense the ice discharged from the devicefor ice discharging outside the door, wherein, as the rotation memberrotates: the rotation wing portion contacts ice pieces guided by theguide, the rotation wing portion rotates the ice pieces toward thedischarge adjustment part, the discharge adjustment part contacts atleast one of the ice pieces being rotated and moves upward and downwardto adjust the number of the ice pieces in the ice holding space definedby the rotation wing portion to the amount of the ice, and the rotationwing portion moves the amount of ice in the ice holding space downwardfrom the discharge adjustment part to the ice discharge opening.